General Archives - Little League https://www.littleleague.org/news/category/general/ Welcome To the Home of Little League Baseball and Softball Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:35:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 John Magers Elevated to Little League® Central Region Director https://www.littleleague.org/news/john-magers-elevated-to-little-league-central-region-director/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:35:09 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=225021 Little League® International is pleased to announce the elevation of John Magers, Central Region Assistant Director, to its Central Region Director, effective November 25, 2024. “Over the past two years, […]

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Little League® International is pleased to announce the elevation of John Magers, Central Region Assistant Director, to its Central Region Director, effective November 25, 2024.

“Over the past two years, John has done a tremendous job supporting our volunteers, and more importantly the players, throughout the entire Central Region,” said Corey Wright, Little League East, West, and Central Region Operations Managing Director. “His leadership throughout the entire Little League season, including through the operation of our tournaments the past two years, showcased his ability to take on the responsibilities as the Region Director and we are excited to see him thrive in this new role.”

Mr. Magers has served as the Central Region Assistant Director since 2022 where he has helped with the day-to-day operations of the Central Region Headquarters to enhance operations, develop and implement training programs, and assist with the operation of tournaments, including the annual Central Region Little League Softball® Tournament and the Midwest and Great Lakes Little League Baseball® Tournaments. The Central Region Headquarters serves 13 states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).

“It is an honor to be named as the Central Region Director and to take on the added responsibilities of overseeing the thousands of volunteers who make Little League possible in our region,” said Mr. Magers. “Working as the Assistant Region Director these last two years has taught me a lot about the day-to-day workings of the program at the grassroots level, but more importantly has shown me the dedication and commitment that our volunteers have throughout the Central Region. I look forward to working with them even further in this new capacity and bringing opportunities and excitement to the thousands of children across the Central Region.”

Prior to his role at Little League, Mr. Magers worked as an Operations and Sourcing Specialist at Athletx Sports Group in Carmel, Indiana, where he controlled tournament registrations and credits for Pastime Tournaments and Mid America Baseball as well as assisting with the operations of Pastime National Championships. Mr. Magers also served as an assistant coach for the Guerin Catholic High School varsity baseball team since 2019.

In addition to his role at Athletx Sports Group, Mr. Magers also has experience as the Director of Baseball Operations for Imavex Orange Baseball where he managed and oversaw the operations of 18 travel baseball teams, as well as serving as the Site Administrator and Assistant Tournament Director for the Ultimate Tournament Series in Central Indiana. Mr. Magers has also worked as an Operations Leader for DICK’S Sporting Goods and as a Gate Attendant and Merchandise Salesman for Bullpen Tournaments at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana.

Mr. Magers graduated from Manchester University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and a minor in Sales. During his time at Manchester University, Mr. Magers was a member of the baseball team where he was voted as best teammate and named a scholar athlete and was also involved as a Treasurer for Manchester Catholics and a member of the College of Business Club.

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Little League® Hall of Excellence Enshrinees Highlight New AUSL Head Coach and General Manager Selections https://www.littleleague.org/news/little-league-hall-of-excellence-enshrinees-highlight-new-ausl-head-coach-and-general-manager-selections/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:57:22 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=225027 Little League® Hall of Excellence Enshrinees, Cat Osterman (2016) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (2022), have officially been named as two of the four new General Managers of the Athletes Unlimited Softball […]

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Little League® Hall of Excellence Enshrinees, Cat Osterman (2016) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (2022), have officially been named as two of the four new General Managers of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), set to make its debut in June 2025.

 

In addition to Osterman and Dalton-Hill, former Little Leaguers® Stacey Nuveman-Deniz and Kelly Kretschman will also play a key role in the new league, serving as two of the four Head Coaches.

 

This group adds depth and experience to an incredible team working on league development, joining softball legends Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Osterman, and Natasha Watley who are advisors to the AUSL.

The General Managers will assemble their rosters from a list that includes these players and others, beginning with the AUSL Allocation Draft, which will take place in early 2025. There will also be a college draft later in the spring, allowing each team to fill out its final roster spots.

Earlier this year, the AUSL also announced the first group of players to sign with the league, which included the following Little League alumnae:

  • Carly Hoover – South Simpsonville (S.C.) LL – 2008 LLSWS Champion
  • Jesse Warren – Citrus Park LL (Tampa, Fla.)
  • Morgan Zerkle – Ona-Milton (W.V.) LL

Learn more about the AUSL by visiting AUProSports.com/AUSL.

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Little League® Rounds Out #GWG50 Celebration with Five-Part Docuseries https://www.littleleague.org/news/little-league-rounds-out-gwg50-celebration-with-five-part-docuseries/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:42:41 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224980 Join Little League® as it concludes its year-long Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Celebration, honoring of 50 years of girls and women in its program, with a five-part docuseries detailing […]

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Join Little League® as it concludes its year-long Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Celebration, honoring of 50 years of girls and women in its program, with a five-part docuseries detailing the history and future of the Little League Softball® program.   

Set to debut with its first episode across LittleLeague.org and YouTube.com/LittleLeague on December 2, “Beyond the Diamond: Celebrating 50 Years of Little League Softball” showcases all aspects of the Little League program, from the history that began the softball program to where it is heading in the future.   

With a new episode set to air each week, the five-part series features interviews with some of the biggest names in the softball industry, including Jessica Mendoza, Amanda Scarborough, Jenny Dalton-Hill, Michele Smith, and more.   

 Throughout the series, each episode covers a span of time that focuses on what was happening within the program as well as historical moments that may have influenced the program and its development. Check out a synopsis of each episode below: 

Episode One: Participation for All  

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Learn about how the Little League Softball program first came to fruition in the 1970s, what caused momentum to start the program, and how its humble beginnings began to change the mentality of females in sports. Join the pioneers that led the charge to allow girls into the Little League program and learn about the integrity they showed to make the opportunities of today possible.   

Episode Two: The Building of a Program 

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Experience the Little League Softball program as it starts to take shape and gain more popularity and more exposure. Understand what challenges the program would face and who was involved in getting Little League Softball on its feet during the early years.  

Episode Three: Growing the Program  

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Join us on the journey as the softball program grows, including the addition of more teams in the World Series and an increasing focus around league development. As more games begin to be added to ESPN platforms, and the game of softball grows in the spotlight, interest and investment by communities and major sponsors around the game begins to rise.  

Episode Four: Softball Worldwide 

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As the World Series expands to provide more opportunity, and Little League partners with Athletes Unlimited to bring professional softball directly to its participants, the Little League Softball program continues to grow and showcase the importance of Girls with Game all around the world.   

Episode Five: Building the Future  

GWG50 Docuseries - Episode 5

While Little League celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its softball program and inclusion of girls within its organization, it is only the beginning as it sets course for the future with an increased focus on female inclusivity and promotion of Girls with Game.  

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Today, the Little League Softball program showcases more than 25,000 softball teams and 300,000 participants, offering young girls the opportunity to enjoy the unique benefits in more than 25 countries around the world. To learn more about the Little League Softball program, including how to add softball to your existing Little League program, visit LittleLeague.org/Softball 

To learn more about the Girls with Game 50 Celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.  

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Little League® Grads Take Home 2024 MLB Awards https://www.littleleague.org/news/little-league-grads-take-home-2024-mlb-awards/ Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:47:17 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=225017 More than 15 Little League® graduates were recognized for their on- and off-field efforts as part of the 2024 Major League Baseball Awards. Alex Bregman – Eastdale LL (Albuquerque, N.M.) […]

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More than 15 Little League® graduates were recognized for their on- and off-field efforts as part of the 2024 Major League Baseball Awards.

Alex Bregman – Eastdale LL (Albuquerque, N.M.)

  • American League Gold Glove Award (3B)

Matt Chapman – Lake Forest (Calif.) LL

  • National League Gold Glove Award (3B) 

Tommy Edman – Tierrasanta LL (San Diego, Calif.)

  • NLCS MVP

Freddie Freeman – North Sunrise LL (Orange, Calif.)

    • World Series MVP

Aaron Judge – Linden (Calif.) LL

  • Players Choice Player of the Year
  • Players Choice American League Outstanding Player
  • American League Silver Slugger (OF)
  • First Team All-MLB (OF)
  • American League Hank Aaron Award
  • American League MVP (unanimous)

Michael King – Warwick (R.I.) Continental American LL

  • Second Team All-MLB (SP)

Steven Kwan – Sunnyvale (Calif.) Southern LL

  • American League Gold Glove (LF)

Shohei Ohtani – Mizusawa (Japan) LL

    • Players Choice National League Outstanding Player
    • National League Silver Slugger (OF)
    • First Team All-MLB (DH)
    • National League Hank Aaron Award
    • Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award
    • National League MVP (unanimous)

Cal Raleigh – Great Smokies LL (Sylva, N.C.)

  • American League Gold Glove Award (C)

Jurickson Profar – Pabao LL (Willemstead, Curacao) – 2004 LLBWS

  • National League Silver Slugger (OF) 

Chris Sale – Lakeland City (Fla.) Baseball LL

  • Players Choice National League Outstanding Pitcher
  • Players Choice National League Comeback Player
  • National League Gold Glove Award (P)
  • First Team All-MLB (SP)
  • Triple Crown Winner
  • National League Cy Young Award

Paul Skenes – Lake Forest (Calif.) LL

  • First Team All-MLB (SP)
  • National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year

Tarik Skubal – Kingman (Ariz.) North LL/Kingman (Ariz.) South LL

    • Players Choice American League Outstanding Pitcher
    • First Team All-MLB (SP)
    • Triple Crown Winner
    • American League Cy Young Award (unanimously)

Juan Soto – Banco Central LL (Santo Domingo, D.R.) – 2010 Caribbean Regional

  • American League Silver Slugger (OF)
  • First Team All-MLB (OF)

 Giancarlo Stanton – Tujunga (Calif.) LL

  • ALCS MVP

Zack Wheeler – Smyrna (Ga.) LL

  • First Team All-MLB (SP)

NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League® graduate that would fit into one of these categories, please fill out our Little League Alumni Submission Form.

To learn more about Little League alumni, including a full listing of active MLB players who got their start in Little League and those who played in both the Little League Baseball® World Series and MLB, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni.

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Little League® Diamond Leader Discussions: Kenidi White https://www.littleleague.org/news/little-league-diamond-leader-discussions-kenidi-white/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:33:31 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224593 Wanting to give young female athletes more than what she was offered at their age, Kenidi White joined the Centex Little League program in Little River-Academy, Texas, as a volunteer […]

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Wanting to give young female athletes more than what she was offered at their age, Kenidi White joined the Centex Little League program in Little River-Academy, Texas, as a volunteer softball coach.

“I love to coach kids, whether it’s basketball or softball, and to be a part of making them better both on and off the field,” said Ms. White. “Having a coach that wants to establish a connection and shows you believe in them is sometimes all a young female athlete needs to be able to go out onto the field and be their best, not only for their benefit but for their teammates, too.”

In 2024, Ms. White traveled to Kirkland, Washington, with her team of softball players to compete as the Southwest Region representative in the Junior League Softball World Series. The Southwest girls made it to the semifinals and while they lost, they left the fields with lifelong memories.

“A favorite memory would probably have to be just being around people from all over the world. From seeing the different coaching styles to watching all of the athletes pick each other up during games, and just the pure joy on the girls’ faces knowing they were getting the chance to show off their talent at such a young age,” said Ms. White. “They are young kids taking advantage of this opportunity and making the most of it, and I loved being a part of it.”

Recognized as the November 2024 Little League Diamond Leader of the Month, as part of the Girls with Game 50 Celebration, Ms. White recently shared her experience with the program and the training in a Diamond Leader Discussion:   

From your experience with the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program, why do you think it is important for not just coaches, but for all volunteers to take the training   

The Diamond Leader training taught me how to build a relationship with each of the players, how to find trust within each other, and how to push them to be better than what they think their best is both on and off the field. The training does a great job of showing through examples how to help each player understand the game without belittling them because it is a learning process that takes both time and practice.

As Little League celebrates Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) in 2024, what does it mean to you to be a female volunteer in the program, coaching the next generation of female athletes?

It feels incredible. My coaches were all females growing up and they distilled most of the qualities that I now try to implement with my players today. It’s an honor because these girls have taught me a lot, as well. Female players NEED their female coaches to be there for them whether it’s as a listener, a big sister, or a role model. I am thankful for the opportunity to be there for these young women and to have been a part of such amazing, unforgettable experiences like the Junior League Softball World Series and I hope there are more to come!

What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader and why should others strive to be the same  

Being a Diamond Leader means a lot to me because it goes to show that I can be myself as their coach with the sole purpose of making them better teammates on the field and better human beings off the field and it works. I want to be a reason that these kids want to achieve the highest goals in life because of the confidence I am instilling in them. I don’t want my athletes to feel like they can’t do something because they can accomplish anything they set their mind to if they display three things: class, pride, and character. Other coaches should strive to be the same because being a good communicator, a listener, a role model, a positive person, and someone who shows they understand can go a long way when working with young athletes.

The Little League Diamond Leader program, which was first piloted with nearly 1,000 Little League volunteers throughout the 2022 season, was created as part of the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge and developed in coordination with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Focused on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field, the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program is a FREE educational resource that provides coaches with an understanding of the impact that mental, social, and emotional well-being has in youth sports through detailed information, interactive scenarios, and a variety of additional resources. Learn more and become a Diamond Leader yourself by visiting LittleLeague.org/DiamondLeader 

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NOTE: The Little League Diamond Leader Discussions is a piece of the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024, with interviews of select Girls with Game who have completed the Little League Diamond Leader training program and exemplify their learnings at their local fields. To learn more about this initiative, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year. 

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Six Innings with Caroline Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of GOALS https://www.littleleague.org/news/six-innings-with-caroline-fitzgerald-founder-and-ceo-of-goals/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:15:21 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224283 Before she became the founder and Chief Executive Officer of GOALS, a consultancy and media company dedicated to growing the business side of women’s sports, Caroline Fitzgerald was a seven-year-old […]

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Before she became the founder and Chief Executive Officer of GOALS, a consultancy and media company dedicated to growing the business side of women’s sports, Caroline Fitzgerald was a seven-year-old girl ready to lace up her cleats, step onto the diamond, and play competitive baseball.  

“I’m one of eight kids, so playing outside and playing sports is something that we just did all the time growing up,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “When my younger brother, Tanner, and I were finally old enough to play on an official team, we were excited and since there were no all-girls baseball teams at the time, my parents signed me up to play on the same team as him. We showed up for our first game and almost immediately the other team started teasing us. It was all little kid stuff like ‘girls can’t play baseball’ and ‘we’re going to crush your team.’ I took that very personally.”  

Determined to prove the boys wrong, Ms. Fitzgerald lifted her chin, rolled her shoulders back, grabbed her glove, and ran out onto the field with her teammates.   

“I took my position in the infield, and it just so happened that the first three boys on the other team all hit ground balls right to me. I threw them all out,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “That was an important moment for me. I remember walking off the field with this feeling of empowerment and this knowledge that I was never going to let anybody tell me that I couldn’t do something or couldn’t be good at something because I was a girl.”  

Ms. Fitzgerald with her brother, Tanner, at their Little League game

She might have only been seven years old, but walking off the field that day, Ms. Fitzgerald could see her future already starting to take shape.  

“From a very young age, I knew I wanted to do something eventually at the intersection of sports and business and women’s empowerment,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “I always had the idea of combining those three things planted in the back of my head as I looked at my personal interests plus my academic and professional skills set. My career path was kind of a winding road journey, but I always had that North star idea in mind.”  

Ms. Fitzgerald’s idea became a reality during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when professional women’s sports became more accessible to fans than ever before.  

“For the first time in history, you could sit down and watch a complete WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) season or a complete NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) season on TV. I was one of those people who sat down during the pandemic and started watching and when I did, I started noticing business results were off the charts. Viewership was up, sponsorship sales were up, merchandise sales were up,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “My interest was piqued, and I wanted to learn more about not only the business results, but also why there were so many gender gaps that still exist in professional sports.”  

Looking for the answers to her questions, Ms. Fitzgerald’s searched for a podcast that discussed these new topics of interest, but she couldn’t find one. Her solution? To start one.  

“I started the company GOALS by first starting the podcast, The Business Case for Women’s Sports. On each episode, I invited people on the podcast who could talk about the things that I wanted to learn about,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “After a year of podcasting and putting out content on our social media channels, I had the idea to take the work I was already doing and combine it with my marketing and sponsorship background to create the full business. I saw the women’s sports industry was being underserved and thought maybe I could lend a hand.”  

Ms. Fitzgerald recording The Business Case for Women’s Sports podcast episode

Today, GOALS continues to show brands, networks, and investors why it is good business to invest in women’s sports. Since 2020, GOALS has worked with multiple sports organizations to help with their growth, including the Women’s National Football Conference, Baseball for All, multiple professional women’s hockey teams, the USA Rugby Women’s Premier League, and more.  

To learn more about her experience as a young female athlete and her journey in the sports industry, Little League sat down for a special #GWG50 Six-Innings Conversation with Ms. Fitzgerald:  

First Inning: What was the best advice that you received as a young female athlete that you have carried into your professional career? 

My family instilled in me to always work hard and to always show up. That’s not groundbreaking advice since, you know, a lot of people hear that advice, but it’s true. If you keep showing up and you keep working hard, usually good things happen in sports and in life. That work hard and show up mindset is what I carried with me while playing baseball and basketball, and it is something that I have carried with me into my professional career.  

Second Inning: What roles do youth sports and youth sports organizations play in the growth of professional women’s sports?

We have learned a lot over the past 10 years about the impact sports have on young females and reports are coming out showing a direct connection between girls playing sports and women having leadership skills. So, when I think about the role of youth sports, I think about it on a more macro scale of how essential it is to give girls opportunities to play sports at the youth level, because that means, based on the data, that we are going to have more women leaders in our society once they grow up… I think if we can get more girls playing sports, then we are going to have a more equitable society and then girls are going to see more opportunities in every single facet of life. Youth organizations play a huge role when it comes to the growth of women’s sports in general, but I would say even more so in women’s empowerment.  

Third Inning: A phrase that has been prominent this year as we celebrate Girls with Game 50 is ‘if you can see her, you can be her. Who did you look up to when you were a young female athlete? 

The other night, I got to serve on a panel discussion talking about women’s sports and I sat next to the person that I always looked up to as a kid, Suzie McConnell-Serio, and it was a real pinch me moment. Susie was an incredible basketball player and basketball coach. She is from my hometown, and I always looked up to her. I wanted to be a point guard like her and play for her because she coached at my high school, but she left to go coach in the WNBA before I got there. She is someone that I always looked up to because I loved the way she played. She was tough, scrappy, hardworking. Everything that I was taught to be growing up as a young athlete and as an individual is what I also saw in her. It was just so full circle to sit there and talk about women’s sports and share that moment with her.  

Fourth Inning: What would your elevator pitch be to an individual or to an organization on why they should invest in women’s sports, whether it be in youth, collegiate, or professional sports?   

What I think is special about the opportunity of investing in women’s sports is that doing what is right lives right alongside doing what is profitable. It is this classic win-win and there are two really good things that come from it. The first is that it is going to be good for their bottom line. It’s going to be good for business. There’s a report out of Australia that says that for every $1 spent on a sponsorship in professional women’s sports, you’re going to see a $7.29 return on that investment, which is a pretty good return if you ask me. Number two is that it’s good for society. It’s the right thing to do. So, by doing something that’s good for your business, you’re also going to be doing something that’s good for the greater society. It’s going to be good for everybody. So, I just don’t think there’s any downside 

Fifth Inning: With your experience in the industry, what advice would you give to a young female professional who is looking to establish themselves in a career in sports?  

I’ll offer two pieces of advice. Number one – keep showing up, every single day. I especially give this advice to people that are working in women’s sports because it can be a tough industry that is under resourced and is not yet seeing that big increase of investment that it needs. When it comes to working in that industry, it can be challenging. You’re trying to do more with less, which is never easy. You’re just grinding all the time to drive results. You have to keep showing up. Things are changing and getting better every single day for the industry, so you have to keep going and keep pushing.  

The second piece of advice is a Dolly Parton quote that I really like. The quote is, “find out who you are and do it on purpose.” I challenge everybody to think about what your passion points are, what your purpose might be, and then think about how that relates with your skill set. Once you figure out who you are and how those things intersect, go forward and put intentionality behind it and amazing things can come from that. There might always be the clearest path to get to your end goal, but if you keep showing up, if you keep working hard, those things will become clear.  

Sixth Inning: Little League is celebrating 50 years of female involvement in the program this year. While we celebrate the past, what do you think is the future for females in sports, whether it is on the field or behind the scenes?

For a long time, the sports world has been built by men, for men. I think the future of sports will be a much more inclusive place, especially for women and girls.  

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NOTE: To read more of the Special “Six Inning” Features as part of the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committing to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating for this celebration around key events and milestones this year. 

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Joseph Sagaria Jr., New York District 18 Administrator, Passes Away https://www.littleleague.org/news/joseph-sagaria-jr-new-york-district-18-administrator-passes-away/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:02:35 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224666 Little League International remembers Joseph Sagaria Jr., New York District 18 Administrator at the age of 80. Mr. Sagaria was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1944, and his […]

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Little League International remembers Joseph Sagaria Jr., New York District 18 Administrator at the age of 80.

Mr. Sagaria was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1944, and his favorite past time was Little League®. Mr. Sagaria served as the New York District 18 in Rockland County for 25 years. He was dedicated to the Little League Challenger Division® and would send New York teams for the summer to Bristol, Connecticut, to participate in the East Region Challenger Fun Day.

He is survived by his son, John; daughter, Chrissy; and grandchildren, Joshua, Justin, and Alexandra; and is predeceased by his wife, Rosemary, and his son, Scott.

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Longtime California Volunteer, Jeffrey Ahrens, Remembered https://www.littleleague.org/news/longtime-california-volunteer-jeffrey-ahrens-remembered/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:00:49 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224662   An administrator for California District 51 for 35 years, Jeffrey Ahrens, passed away on September 21, at the age of 75. Mr. Ahrens was born in Fairberry, Nebraska, to […]

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An administrator for California District 51 for 35 years, Jeffrey Ahrens, passed away on September 21, at the age of 75.

Mr. Ahrens was born in Fairberry, Nebraska, to Idonna and Glenn Ahrens. When he was 18, he joined the Marines and served till 1982, including a tour in Vietnam.

Throughout his leadership of California District 51, Mr. Ahrens was especially proud of the development of the softball program. The California District 51 team won the Big League Softball World Series in 1996 and 2005, and girls from the district competed in a World Series tournament at every level of Little League Softball® while Mr. Ahrens was D.A.

Mr. Ahrens is survived by his two sons, James and Jason, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

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World of Little League® Museum and Little League® Flagship Store Announce Winter Holiday Specials and Hours https://www.littleleague.org/news/world-of-little-league-museum-and-little-league-flagship-store-announce-winter-holiday-specials-and-hours/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 19:45:09 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224479 With the holiday season quickly approaching, the World of Little League® Museum and the new Little League® Flagship Store have announced their exciting holiday specials and hours.   Toys for Tots Donations […]

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With the holiday season quickly approaching, the World of Little League® Museum and the new Little League® Flagship Store have announced their exciting holiday specials and hours.  

Toys for Tots Donations at the Museum 

Visitors with a giving heart will once again have the opportunity to earn free admission to the World of Little League Museum this holiday season thanks to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Each visitor who brings a new, unwrapped toy with a value of at least $10 to the Museum prior to Friday, December 13, will receive one free Museum admission for later use as a thank you for supporting the local Toys for Tots program. Toys collected at the Museum will be given to the American Rescue Workers and the Salvation Army for local distribution in Williamsport, South Williamsport, Loyalsock Township, Cogan Station, Trout Run, and Linden. 

The Museum is currently open Thursdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. While closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, groups are welcome to schedule private tours during that time period by emailing Museum@LittleLeague.org. For more information, including prices, directions, and more, visit LittleLeagueMuseum.org. The Museum will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving. 

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Flagship Store Discounts and Clearance Items 

Now is the best time to start your holiday shopping at the new Little League Flagship Store or at ShopLittleLeague.org. This month, visitors can take advantage of exciting sales including $5 jerseys and sublimated tees, $2.50 caps and tees, discounted 2024 Little League world Series items, clearance items up to 80% off, and more. The Flagship Store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET but will be closed on November 27-29, 2024, for the holiday. 

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Little League® Mourns the Passing of Longtime Central Region Volunteer, James Beckum https://www.littleleague.org/news/little-league-mourns-the-passing-of-longtime-central-region-volunteer-james-beckum/ Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:47:16 +0000 https://www.littleleague.org/?p=224496 Little League® International mourns the passing of James Beckum, 95, a former Negro Leagues player and co-founder of Beckum-Stapleton Little League in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  An Illinois native, Mr. Beckum grew […]

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James Beckum

Little League® International mourns the passing of James Beckum, 95, a former Negro Leagues player and co-founder of Beckum-Stapleton Little League in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

An Illinois native, Mr. Beckum grew up on the farm tending livestock and picking fruits and vegetables, before he was drafted in 1952 to the United States Marines, where he served his country for the next eight years. A talented baseball player, Mr. Beckum played for two Negro Leagues teams. After hanging up his cleats, he worked for the Ladish Company as a supervisor for the aerospace industry, construction, and farmland equipment until his retirement in 1990.

While Mr. Beckum did not have a background in youth sports, in 1963, he was approached by a local Reverand who was looking to reserve a public field for a group of kids who wanted to play baseball. Three years later, field reservations turned into the chartering of the Beckum-Stapleton LL program, providing the opportunity for multiple generations of young athletes in Milwuakee’s inner city to play the game they love.

In its first year, the Beckum-Stapleton LL program, with the support of the community, registered 60 Little Leaguers®. Today, the league continues to thrive with more than 400 registered players and as a member of the Little League Urban Initiative, a program that assists more than 200 leages across nearly 90 cities with equipment acquisiton, capital improvement cash grants, field development and renovation, and access to education and training.

2015 Award Winners

In 2015, Mr. Beckum was honored at the Little League Howard and Gail Paster Little League Urban Initiative Volunteer of the Year, for the more than 60 years he dedicated to the players, coaches, umpires, and volunteers of Beckum-Stapleton LL. Mr. Beckam’s legacy will be remembered by future generations who step onto Beckum-Stapleton Little League’s fields, named James W. Beckum Park by Milwaukee County in 2013.

Mr. Beckum was preceded in death by his wife, Jimmie Ruth Beckum,  his parents, Easter and Green Beckum; his sons, Gerry and Gregory (Wine) Beckum; one brother, Isaiah Beckum Sr; two sisters Elizabeth (Lizzie) Verser and Doris Jefferies; three sisters-in-law, Juanita Smith, Bluemelle Beckum and Maxine Golden; five brothers-in-law Theodore Golden, Hoyle Jefferies, Hulon Verser, Cleveland Golden, Jerry Patton; and one grandson, Terrance Hall.

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